The modern notation of early music
This section is Thomas's (but unfinished) and I found it useful to increase my own knowledge, but I think it's grown out of balance with the rest of the site, and should be replaced by a link to something that is already on the net, though I haven't actually managed to find anything suitable yet.
Early music went on a long time, and the notation grew and grew. Let's work backwards.
Baroque music notation in modern editions looks pretty normal, except for the keyboard part. But it doesn't always have quite the same meaning. Slurs, trills, apoggiaturas (can mean 'this isn't the harmony note'). Keyboard - figured bass. more to come
Early music went on a long time, and the notation grew and grew. Let's work backwards.
Baroque music notation in modern editions looks pretty normal, except for the keyboard part. But it doesn't always have quite the same meaning. Slurs, trills, apoggiaturas (can mean 'this isn't the harmony note'). Keyboard - figured bass. more to come
You'll need to get used to counting in minims rather than crotchets. In fact, you might try counting in semibreves sometimes, including for the start of the fantasia.
Some editions also provide a bit at the beginning (an 'incipit') to tell you what the editor has done. I've put a red box round the incipit in this next figure. It tells you the original clef, note length, and time signature. You don't play that bit! |
Early music may not have put in bar lines. If they've been put in later they may not come in sensible places.Apparent syncopation may jus mean the rhythm doesn't fit with later bar lines. Often you will find the occasion 3 beat bar in a 2 beat piece of music - it doesn't mean the rhythm or speed has changed, simply that this bar carries on for a bit longer than usual.